Review of City of Men (2007) by Peter L — 28 Mar 2008

A RETURN TO THE GODLESS CITY, NOW IN THE HANDS OF CHILDREN.

In the Oscar race of 2003, a small Brazilian film that had been denied a nomination in the foreign language category a year earlier surprised the world by earning four nominations, including one for director Fernando Mierelles. When people subsequently discovered City of God, they found one of the most insightful and thrilling international sensation of the decade- a brutal history of the continuing circles of violence within the slums of Rio de Janeiro.

City of Men is not a direct sequel to Mierelles film- its based off a TV series that ran for four seasons after the success of the original (Mierelles stayed on as a producer for the series and this film). And although the film does feel like a made for TV version of City of God, that is not to say the film goes without its many merits. Director Paul Morelli may not have an energetic camera like his predecessor, but tells a passionate story that dwells on many of the same themes as the original, but mainly has its focus on the relationship between fathers and sons.

While God began in the 50s and worked its way through the 70s, Men takes place in the present time. The story follows two best friends named Ace and Wallace, played by Douglas Silva and Darlan Cunha. Both are quickly approaching the age of eighteen and coming to realization of the world they are living in. While Ace, who has a small son, is trying to come to terms of being father, never knowing his own, Wallace is now attempting to find the father he never had, no matter who he was or what he did. At the same time, a new gang war is beginning as to who has control over the main hill in the slums.

What works so well in City of Men is that its story of violence becomes so heavily realized. This isnâ??t as violent as God (though the cautious should be warned) but the emotional payoff works much greater. The script from Elena Soarez (a writer for the series) makes every little detail work, giving a great satisfying story delivered with some wonderful production design and cinematography. Morelliâ??s best accomplishment has to be is ability to makes his actors work well within this complicated and bizarre world.

Of course, the film does fall flat in the shadow of its predecessor. City of Men may be entertaining and well made, but it carries none of the cathartic joy that Mierelles brought to his film. Where Men leaps, God would have rocketed off. Itâ??s seems wrong to put down a perfectly fine film; But when you can see how much better accomplished the same themes and ideas can be, its hard to recommend this over the previous feature.